When I visit the Bethany Lowe showroom, I think HALLOWEEN! Yes, Bethany represents home decor and all holiday … but her Halloween line is always over the top!
Above, the LARGE COUNTRY PUMPKIN GENT is a new entry from Scott Smith’s Rucus Studio. When they named it “large”, they weren’t kidding! This guy makes a real statement at 24″ tall, He’s resin with a bamboo stick and a great paper pulp lantern carried over his shoulder. He does have a “big” price, too. Well,he does come in a little under $200.
Speaking of pricing … think about the the state of our economy. Oil is at $100 a barrel, all transportation costs have increased accordingly, not to mention the cost of oil-based materials. Now, add to the mix the current dollar devaluation in the world marketplace. Do you begin to get a picture of what I’m about to tell you?
Expect prices this year to increase anywhere from 15% to 40%. The European ornament manufacturers seem to be especially hard hit. Some have dropped ornaments from their lines because they have become so expensive. In the Radko line, they have a fabulous line of Italians for 2008. The prices I checked in the showroom ranged from $65 – $125 per ornament. The new pieces in the German Master Craftsman Collection ranged from $100 to $250, for those I checked. But they were awesome! I loved Chung King Lights in 2007. This year’s collection has “Chung King” … based upon each segment of the original design … and turned into smaller ornaments.
I have an appointment at the Radko showroom tomorrow as well as Joy to the World. By the way, they have a penguin Schaller that is just incredible! As I’m sure many of you have suspected the Schaller with a “surprise” is a minature glass ornament version of the paper mache German figure.
Well, I took about 150 images today … tomorrow will certainly break that record!
Let me know what you would like to “see” from the showrooms. I’ll do my best to make your wishes come true!
Connie